Refrigerator car



, 06E Br T923: 1 89,081

- D. L. REYNOLDS REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed June 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 PIE. 1 INVENTOR Jam/k A. fl wfiv.

BY ZZa M HIS ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1928. 1,689,081

- D. L. REYNOLDS REFRI GERATOR CAR Filed June 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3

INVEN TOR am/k L Reyna/d5 BY m . 2 ms ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1928. 1,689,081

D. L. REYNOLDS REFRIGERATOR CAR Fi-led June 12, 1926 4 sheets sheet 4 I BY r I r I I HIS ATTORNEY Patented ea. 23, 1928.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. DAMIAN L. REYNOLDS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO LUTHER L. YATES, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

REFRIGERATOR CAB.

Application filed June 12, 192$. Serial No. 115,550.

This invention relates to vehicles for the transportation of cargo, such as freight cars, and more particularly to the construction of refrigerator cars.

It is one of the objects of my invention to improve in general such refrigerator cars, whereby theycan be simply constructed and yet fulfill the requirements demanded.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a novel form of ice grate assembly that can be simply installed and that cannot be removed from within the ice compartment.

It is still another object of my inventon to provide a bulkhead that can be simply 1nstalled, and yet retain desirable pilfer-proof features.

It is still another object of my invention to provide an ice compartment that 1 s watertight, and in which there 1s additional 1nsurance that no water can escape therefrom into the cargo compartment.

My invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a cons deration of several embodiments of my invention. For this purpose I have shown a few forms in the drawings accompanylng and forming part of the present specification. I shall now proceed to describe these forms in detail, which illustrate the general principles of my invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description 1s not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of my invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a. cross sectional view of a car embodyingmy invention, the left hand portion of the section being taken through the cargo compartment, and showing the bulkhead construction, and the right hand por tion of the sectionbeing taken through the ice compartment;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged'horiz'ontal sectional view of a portion of the ice compartment and bulkhead;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken along plane 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the support for the lower portion of the bulkhead, shown however in connection with a depressed flooring in the ice compartment; and

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged detail giews of modified forms of foot rests used in connection with the bulkhead.

In the present instance, I show the improved construction in connection with a car having somewhat the usual form of sides, ends, roof and flooring. For example, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the car has a wooden floor structure 11, below which can be placed a layer 12 of insulating material. The floor beams and substructure are indicated in general only, as at 13. Each of the walls of the car has a layer of matched wood 14 forming the inner surface; and between this layer and the outer layer 15, there may be interposed the usual insulating layers 16 of air, or felt or other material or combination of materials. built, and has a multiple layer structure 17. Adjacenteach end of the car roof, and at the slope thereof, a pair of hatchways 18 is provided, and arranged to be closed by hatches or covers 19 of any desired or standard construct-ion. Ice can thus be lowered through these hatches into the car. A supplementary cover or cap 20 is also usually provided, slipping over the top edge of hatchway 18.

Since my invention is not particularly concerned with the structure of the car walls, further detailed description is unnecessary.

In order to divide the car space into a cargo compartment 21 and an ice compartment 22,

The roof of the car is similarly use is made of a bulkhead structure now to partment. It consists of a vertical, ribbed element, having an extension26', for a purthere is provided a' sill 25, which has a face' sloping downwardly toward the ice com-- pose to be hereinafter described, aswell as a pair of jaw elements 27 and 28, en gm' g one on each side of the sill. These fd d tings can conveniently be formed of castings.

The intermediate footings 24 serve as supports for a series of vertical I beams 29.

These beams each have the bottom portion of one side of oneflange cut away (as indicated at 30 Fig. 4), in order to permit its central web to lie next to the footing 24, to which it can be fastened in any appropriate fashion, as by a series of bolts 31. Each of the end footings24 similarly engages a vertical channel iron 32, the flat side of the channel being adjacent a wood post 44' fastened to the side of the car. Both channels 32 and all the I beams 29 extend to the ceiling 33 of the car. They are anchored in place at that point by a bent plate 34, extending across the car. Its horizontal por tion is bolted to the car ceiling 33 as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. The bolts 35 for this purpose are located in the cargo compartment 21, and it is thus seen that th y cannot be tampered with by unauthorized persons who may have access to the ice compartment 22. The vertical portion of plate34 is securely riveted to the flanges of the channels 32 and beams 29, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

The channels 32 and beams 29 serve as a support for the bulkhead, which includes a metal strongl resistant to blows or other destructive e ec-ts. In the present instance the bulkhead metal consists of a screen 36 of-about 1-} inch mesh, and made from intertwined heavy gauge galvanized wire. This wire screen extends completely around the four sides. of ice compartment 22, from the ceiling 33 to the top of footings 24. For the present I shall detail only the manner in which it is secured to the flanges of the chan-' nels 32 and beams 29. For this purpose, use is made of a series of horizontally spacedbars '37, placed on the inner side of the screen 36v and serving to clamp'the screen between it and the flanges of beams 29 and channels 32. Countersunk head bolts 38 are used for this purpose, the heads being toward the ice compartment. In this way, it is extremely 'diflicult if not impossible, to remove these bolts from within the ice compartment.

For the purpose of keeping the cargo compartment cool, provision must be made to permit ingress of cold air from below the ice grates and into the cargo compartment 21, and for the egress of relatively warm air from this cargo compartment near the ceiling and and into the top of the ice compartment. At the same time, it is preferable to insulate the other portions of the ice compartment. The manner in which this is accomplished will now bedetailed. Wood fillers 39 are located between the flanges of the columns 29 and 32, and extend from the top of footings 24 to plate 34. Those fillers thus form rectan lar sections with the beams. To these llers are fastened a series of vertical wood posts 40, which are adjacent the screen 36 but which are narrower than the fillers 39 so as to form a rabbet or flange. These posts do not extend all the Way to the ceiling 33,

between the colhead lining insulation 42 of any appropriate material, such as hairinsul, hai'rfelt or flaxlinum. The proportions of the parts are such that these various layers now have an outer surface substantially level with those flanges of .columns 29 and 32 which are nearest the cargo compartment 21. To cover up these layers, another series of horizontal matched boards 43 is used, each board now extending entirely across the bulkhead. On each of the intermediate columns 29 and 32, adjacent the bottom thereof, there is a short strap 44 bolted to the footings 24; these straps serve as a rest for the lowermost board 43 of the series.

A sheet metal capping 45 is placed over the various insulation layers, to prevent moisture or the like from entering between the layers. Fillet bars 46, each attached to the sides of the car, and to the boards 43, serve similarly to seal the seam at these points.

If considered desirable; a finer screening or metal gauze 47 can be added to the open part of the bulkhead.

The ice compartment and its accessories can now be described. Extending across the compartment and adjacent the end wall of the car, is a horizontal beam 48, fastened to the car in any appropriate manner. This beam serves as a support for certain of the grate elements, later to be described. A brace 49 extends across the ice compartment adjacent the ceiling, and serves to hold the bent plate 34 in properspaced relation. This brace is fastenedto the vertical leg of plate 34 and to the side of the car by the long bolt 50. e a

In order to provide a compartment for the ice that will confine the water resulting from the melting of the ice, a flashing or lining is provided, of galvanized sheet metal. A pan 51 is first of all placed in the bottom, between beam 48 andsill 23; thevertical side of the pan adjacent the sill is bent "over to extend over it, and between it and the footings 24. A pair of drain pipes 52 lead below the car floor, andhave conlcal wire guards 53 disposed over them to prevent clogging.

A strip ofiflashing 54 extends part ways up the end of the ice compartment, and is lapped'over the back side of the pan 51. P A similar strip 55 laps over strip 54; and finally a third strip 56 laps over the strip 55. The

sides of the ice compartment may be similarly lined. By providing a lining separated into sections and distinct from pan 51, it is a simple matter to ship the flashing in a knock down condition for replacement.

lib

around the two sides and the end of the ice compartment, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2.

tured' ear 63, and a contacting sur on each side with a slope equal to that of the These uprights are on the inside of the flash ings, and serve as spacers between the flashing and the screen 36, forming the ice basket. Staples or other means can be used to hold the screen 36 to the posts.

The description of the grate structure can now be accomplished. A bar 58, bent up at each end, is fastened on top of beam 48, and extends substantially entirely, across the screen basket. At each of its upturned ends, it carries a guide channel 59. These two channels are also fastened to the sides of the ice compartment, and extend from the front to the rear of the compartment. Upon the bottom flanges of these guides, rest a series of grate bars 60, formed in this instance of angle irons, the extremities of the two legs being in contact with and resting on the bottom flange. These irons thus form a series of inverted V-shaped bars, which can easily shed all moisture.

These grate bars are further supported by the aid of a series of I beams 61, which are bolted at one end to the extension 26 of footing 24 (Fig. 4) and at the other end, are bolted or riveted tothe bar 58. These I beams are located below the grate bars 60. These grate bars are held in proper spaced relation by the aid of a series of spacers 62. These spacers each have a depending ape;

ace

sides of the grate bars 60. They also have a horizontal surface forming an acute corner with surface 64 in which the extremities of the legs of the bars 60 are accommodated. There are two series of such spacers. each v having a bolt 66 passing through the ears for fastening them together and for clamping the grate bars 60 to them. The end spacers 67 are similar to spacers 62, but have only one surface such. as 64. It'is seen that the grate can be readily assembled, the fastening bolts 66 being in such position as to be inaccessible from above the grate. In-this manner, the danger of pilfering the cargo compartment by removing the grate 1s obviated.

Extra precautions are provided for eliminating the possibility of water entering the cargo compartment. For this purpose, a drip pan 68 extends through the footings 24 and entirely across the ice compartment. The footings are purposely cored to permit this pan to extend through them. Any water from the melting ice which drips upon pan 68 is returned'to the bottom Dan 51., the dr p pan being sloped toward the floor.

It is of course'possible to vary the structure of the various elements. Forexample,

as shown in Fig. 4, the sill 25 may have a sloping top, about flush wlth the cargo compartmeat floor 69. A sealing compound 70 may be poured into the space between the sill and the floor, which is cut away to accommodate the bottom of the footing 2-1. Inthis manner, the pan 51 has a lower level than that of the floor, to which lower level the water naturally gravitates.

It is also poxible to utilize other forms of footings. In Figs. 5 and 7, a socket type footing 71 is shown, in which the column 29' tests. There is a hollow portion 7:? of the same section as that of column 29: and those portions engaging the column flanges extend slightly above this portion. The sill 25 and the floor construction is shown similar to that of Fig. 4, but of course the type illustrated in Pig. 3.1could also be used.

The two footings thus far described are best adapted for manufacture by casting. However, it is readily possible to alter the design for the purpose of using stampings or sheet metal. Such a form is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8. In these figures, a sheet metal element 73 is bent into a U-shape to encompass the column 29, the connecting strap of tlie U being bolted or riveted to a flange of the column. The front edge of the footing 73 is bent downward to conform with the sill 25, which is in this instance shown as identical with that of Fig. 4. Thesides of the U are bevelled off as indicated; and a lower jaw 74 is riveted to the bottom of footing 73 to en g re sill 25.

In the forms shown in Figs. 5 to Sinclusive, the I beams 61 upon which the grate bars are adapted to rest, are supported at their front ends on bent plates 75. These plates in turn are attached to the inner flanges of the columns 29. In other respects the structure of the car can be identical with that heretofore detailed.

In all of the forms of bulkheads described, it is sometimes advantageous to define horizontal passageways between the screen cage 36 and the bulkhead. In order to facilitatesuch a construction, I show in Fig. 3, a series of horizontal holes 76 which pass through the columns 29 and 32, as well as the wood fillers 40. These holes can accommodate conduits or the like when needed, to define the horizontal fines. p

In Figs. 1, 3 and 4, I also show a horizontal bar 77 of wood or other material, which is stances, the freight may be in boxes or other small units that would otherwise slide into the ice compartment. I v

In order to permit ready cleaning or mspection, the bar 77 can be lifted out of the.

ate and between the columns 29 l way; and for this purpose it is suspended on- 1 bracket 82, two or more of which can be used;

these permit the bar 81 to be raised when the compartments are cleaned. or repaired.

I claim: 1. In an ice compartment for a cargo'vehicle, a series of bars forming an ice grate,

spacers between the bars, said spacers having portions overlapping the bars for preventing them from moving away from the spacers, an

means for urging the spacers and bars together, located entirely below the bars.

2. In an ice compartment for a cargo vehicle, a series of bars forming an ice grate, spacers between the bars, said spacers having depending lugs, and a bolt passing through 25 the lugs for fastening the spacers and bars t0- gether, said bolt being below the grate.

3. In an ice compartment for a cargo vehicle, a series of angle irons forming an ice grate, and means for fastening the irons to- 39 gether in such manner that they form a series of spaced, inverted V shaped bars, upon'which the ice can be supported.

4. In an ice compartment for a cargo vehicle, a series of parallel, inverted V-shaped bars forming an ice grate, spacers between the bars having surfaces coactmg with the sloping surfaces of the bars and having horizontal surfaces upon which the legs of the V rest, and means for fastening the spacers and 40 bars together.

5. In an ice compartment'for a cargo vehicle, a series of parallel, inverted V-shaped bars forming an ice grate, spacers between the barshaving surfaces coacting with the sloping surfaces of the bars and having horizontal surfaces upon which the legs of the V rest, said spacers liaving lugs depending below the grate, and a bolt passing through the lugs for fastening the spacers and bars together.

6. In a car 0 vehicle having a pair of compartments, a ulkhead between the compartments, :1. sill separating the floors of the compartments, footings engaging the sill,

columns fastened to the footings and serving as a support for the bulkhead, a series of bars, each supported from the footing, and a grate supported by the bars in one of the compartments.

7 In a cargo vehicle having a pair of compartments, a floor, a series of footings supported by said floor, said footings each having a socket, a column supported in each socket, and a bulkhead supported by the columns for parating the comp ments.

- ment.

8. In a cargo vehicle having an ice comand supported by the footings below the grate for directing water resulting from melting ice, away from the cargo compartment.

9. In a cargo vehicle having an we compartment and a cargo compartment, :1 series of footings between the two compartments, a

bulkhead supported by said footings, an ice grate in the ice compartment above the bottom thereof, and a drip pan passing through cored holes in extensions on the footings and thereby supported below thegrate for directing water resulting from melting ice, away from the cargo compartment.

10. In a cargo vehicle having an ice compartment and a cargo compartment, a series of upright columns, and a bulkhead between the compartments supported by said columns, said columns having a series of apertures extending horizontally through the columns.

11. In a cargo vehicle having an ice compartment and a cargo compartment, a bulkhead between the compartments, said bulkhead leaving an open space at thebottom for the circulation of air between the compartments, and a bar extending horizontally across the open space to prevent cargo from entering therethrough into the ice compart- 12. In a -cargo vehicle having an ice compartment and a cargo compartment, a bulkhead bet-ween'the compartments, said bulkhead leaving an open space at the bottom for.

the circulation of air between the compartments, and a freely movable bar extending horizontally across the open space.

13. In a cargo vehicle having an ice compartment and a cargo compartment, a bulkhead between the compartments, said bulkhead leaving an open space at the bottom for the circulation of air between the compartments, a bar extending horizontally across the open space, and means whereby said bar can be readily lifted clear of the opening.

- 14. In a cargo vehicle, having an ice compartment and a cargo compartment, a bulkead between the compartments, said bulkhead leaving an open space at the bottom for the circulation of air between the compartments, a bar extending horizontally across the open space, and a suspension for said bar that permits removal of the bar from across the space.

15. In a cargo vehicle having an ice compartment and a cargo compartment, a bulkhead between the compartments, said bulkhead leaving an openspace at the bottom for the circulation of air between the compartments, a bar extending horizontally across the open space, and a flexible connection between the bar and a portion of the vehicle structure the circulation of air between the compartto permit moving the bar away from the ments, a bar extending horizontally across opening. a the open space, and a chain suspensionfor l0 e 16. In a cargo vehicle having an ice, fcointhe barjanchored' to the bulkhead structure. 5 partment and a cargo compartment; a bulk- In testimony whereof have hereunto set head between the compartments,- said bulk- 'my hand. I head leaving an open space at the bottom for DAMIAN REYNOLDS.

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